The UH Manoa Department of Theatre and Dance presents the world première of “Uncle Vanya and Zombies,” the second mainstage production of the 2012-2013 season. A perennial favorite of university theater departments, Anton Chekhov’s “Uncle Vanya” has here been updated and deconstructed by Theater Professor Markus Wessendorf.

This innovative and exciting performance will come to the Kennedy Theatre’s mainstage November 9, 10, 15, 16 and 17 at 8 p.m., and November 18 at 2 p.m.; American Sign Language interpretation will be available for the November 17 performance.

Audiences will also have the opportunity to attend several pre-show chats on November 9, 16 or 17 (all at 6:30 p.m.); a post-show chat on November 10; and multiple zombie-related events from late October through early December.

UH Manoa students with validated Fall 2012 IDs will be able to take advantage of the theater’s buy-one-get-one-free program on Thursday, November 15.

“Uncle Vanya and Zombies” takes place in the wasteland formerly known as Honolulu. A recent accident on one of the nuclear submarines off Pearl Harbor (referred to in the show as “Pearl Harbor II”) has turned many people into zombies, who roam Oahu and the University of Hawaii campus. Society on the island has collapsed, but a major mainland television network has used the situation to boost their ratings — turning Kennedy Theatre into a television studio for regular broadcasts of the new reality show “Theatre Masterpieces and Zombies.”

Due to some graphic violence, the show is recommended for mature audiences.

In addition to the play itself, Wessendorf has collaborated with other departments at the University. Also, he has worked with the Honolulu Museum of Art’s Doris Duke Theatre to create a series of events exploring zombies in traditional and popular culture, ranging from an international film series at the Doris Duke to more academic discussions of Native Hawaiian concepts of the undead.

One highlight of these events will be a free public talk on Chekhov and zombies by local actress Sarah Wayne Callies, who plays Lori Grimes on AMC’s hit series “The Walking Dead.” This event will take place at 7 p.m. on December 8. Information on all these events can be found at http://hawaii.edu/kennedy/2012/vanya.

Tickets for “Uncle Vanya and Zombies” are available online at etickethawaii.com, by phone at (808) 944-2697, at participating outlets and at the Kennedy Theatre box office. The box office is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, with extended hours on performance dates.

Prices are $24 general admission; $22 seniors/military/UH faculty and staff; $15 UHAA members; $13 students; and $5 UHM students with validated Fall 2012 UHM photo IDs. Ticket prices include all service fees. Discount rates are available for groups of 10 or more.

For more information, please visit www.hawaii.edu/kennedy or call the theater at (808) 956-7655, including for disability access info.